The problem with a long-range plan, though, is the long-range part of it. The goal is distant, which by definition means it is way out there, beyond the horizon, not to be accomplished anytime soon.

So it can be aggravating and, at times, annoying.

But still we truck forward!

When I decided to pursue my dreams of becoming a writer, I sat down and mapped out the journey. I’m anal that way. I write a long-range calendar, for lack of a better term….it includes writing goals, marketing goals, steps upon steps upon steps as I climb this ladder.

The good news is I’m right on plan. The bad news is, at times, the struggle seems endless.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” John Quincy AdamsTHOUGHT OF THE DAY

I really am right on schedule. In five years I have written four-full-length novels, one non-fiction book and three novellas. I continue to write articles and soon my first podcast will be offered for your listening pleasure.

Sales are picking up on my books and I attribute that to a steadfast approach to keep cranking out books and building upon earlier successes and efforts. Soon I’ll move on to the next stage, which will be an increase in public readings and book signings. Now that I have a body of work I’m proud of, it’s time to take it to the people, in person.

And this fall I want to teach several creative courses.

I’ve done some of this in the past. I need to do more of it.

So how about you?

TIP OF THE DAY

Do you have a long-range plan? If not, do you think you might benefit from one?

FINDING CREATIVITY

Do you really find creativity?

If you asked me forty years ago if I was creative I would have immediately said no and honestly, I wasn’t. I showed no signs of the writer I have become today. During the forty years that followed, though, I experienced life and I became more aware of life around me.

Today I suspect creativity was in me long ago but it was dormant, a sleeping giant just waiting to erupt from me. The time was finally right, five years ago, for me to write and release that creativity. I don’t believe I found it. I don’t know that I did anything special to find it. It just happened when my muse allowed it to happen.

Don’t try to force creativity. Allow it to happen. Baby steps and willingness will go a long way.

THE BILLY THE KID CHRONICLES: HOME IS A DANGEROUS PLACE

Yes, a new Billy the Kid is being written as we speak. Here’s a preview of that upcoming novella.

There’s a story that circulated around the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City when I was a teen. You know, urban legend sort of shit, origin unknown, veracity questionable at best but still, it was worth taking note of. The story was about Val Checkers, nickname for Valentino Agnelli, the Checkers for his love of the game, which he played with neighborhood kids daily in Central Park. Peaceful setting at first glance but definitely deceiving.

The surname Agnelli means “timid person” in Italian but let me tell ya, there was nothing timid about Val Checkers when I knew him. Val was a made man in the Italian Mafia, his area of expertise prostitution. The Italians were splitting up the city with the Russians, Chinese, Jamaicans, Mexicans and a few other nationalities, all scraping out a living from illegal endeavors. It was agreed, long ago, to work under a flag of truce rather than fight it out daily, and for the most part that truce still works today.

Anyway, the story goes there was a pimp, Fat Boy Jerome, who worked the area around West 179th, near High Bridge Park, just off of Amsterdam, and like any low-level pimp he had visions of grandeur, him thinking he was going to squeeze some extra fat from Valentino’s royalties and it would go unnoticed. This went on for several months but, as any street rat in the Heights can tell you, eventually there are no secrets. Val found out, to the surprise of no one because, well, Val had a thousand eyes and ears in the neighborhood, and he requested a meeting with Fat Boy.

Over the span of the next two weeks, every low-level pimp in the Heights received a package, delivered by UPS, and in that package was one of Jerome’s body parts and a checker.

I wasn’t there to witness it but I have no doubt it happened.

Agnelli is one of those guys who always looked old. He looked old twenty years ago when I ran numbers for his outfit, me being thirteen at the time, and he looked the same old last year when I saw him eating linguini at Momma’s Kitchen. He has a peaceful face, a gentle face, a grandfatherly face, the kind of face you imagine at church bake sales, but get closer to that face and you’ll be forced, eventually, to look at his eyes, and one look at those eyes will tell you all you need to know about Val Checkers.

The eyes reflect his soul, dark pools with no reflection.

DEATH AND LIFE

We had a new hatch of quail chicks last week, sixty total, all seemingly healthy, but five days after the hatch one of the babies died. I held it while it was taking its last breaths and there was something very profound in that moment we shared. If you don’t understand that you probably never will.

Life is precious! We writers imitate life and bring ideas to life.

Pay attention to those special moments when life, and death, speak to you.

NEED A COVER FOR YOUR BOOK?

Call on my buddy Mike Friedman and he’ll fix you up at a reasonable cost. You can find him by following this link.

PODCASTING SMODCASTING

It’s getting closer, I promise. When I do finally post my first podcast it will be called, appropriately, The Writer’s Mailbag. Stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by. I’ll catch you down the road of life and at that time we’ll share more thoughts about life and writing.

As you know, I plan everything daily as well as long range. I also know what you’re talking about when you speak about sharing the last breath with that quail chick. I have done that with people and it is a humbling experience when you share the moment that another spirit crosses over.

Best wishes regarding your books! I too have noticed an uptick of readers!

It is always good to read what you are up to at various stages of your writing career. You are really sticking to it in a way that makes a believer out of me. Having goals and planning make a big difference. As you know, I’m moving. In the process of packing and trashing I came across some old planners that I scribbled in. At first I hesitated to open the planners to see what my past goals were – afraid of discovering I had missed the mark by a mile. Imagine my surprise to discover that all but one of my goals were met. The goal that hasn’t been met right now is the actual income I thought would follow the meeting of such goals. I’m still happy because at least I accomplished something that I set out to do. And you are so right about the precious nature of life.

Love the idea of a podcast and you know, it was so interesting that you mentioned being a fiction writer. With long term plans. And yes, I find myself much more gravitated toward non-fiction. With long-term plans. (And shorter-term ones meaning I have to make a living doing non-writing, non-creative, non-autonomous things.) But yes, the hard part is not deviating. Thank you for the gentle reminder that it’s all a process. 🙂 Hope you’re well, my friend. Sending hugs!

I agree that having a long-range plan in place can help you achieve your goals, however, it’s important to remember that it’s not etched in stone. Life will do what it will do so be ready to make the occasional detour. As long as you return to the main highway after, there’s no need to stress over it.

No stress at all, Zulma, not in my little corner of Olympia, Washington, but your message is right on….small detours are normal, as long as you return once the road maintenance is cleared. 🙂 Thanks as always!

Wow, Bill…. there is just no stopping you 🙂 Congrats on your five-year plan and all your success thus far; you are an inspiration like no other. It’s really so inspirational to see all that you’ve accomplished in just a few years. I am so grateful for that time I had working from home, when I could plan and map out all sorts of ambitious writing goals One thing I’ve come to realise about myself (finally), is that I change my mind often. I get bored quickly, so whatever extra writing / creative thing I do outside working hours better be fun and flexible. So far, I’m enjoying this side passion project of blogging on Karuka.

Good luck with the writing week ahead and I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend my friend. 🙂